Ploce Gate

Ploce Gate is the eastern entrance to the walled Old Town of Dubrovnik, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva region of southern Croatia. It stands on Ulica Frana Supila, at the eastern edge of the walls, between the City Walls and the massive Fort Revelin, which protected this side of the city. As at Pile Gate, access is by a stone bridge over the former moat and a wooden drawbridge, followed by an inner gate, so approaching visitors pass through two stages of defence. Above the outer arch is a statue of St Blaise, and the passage leads into a short lane that opens out near the Old Port and Luza Square. The gate is far quieter than Pile Gate because no city buses terminate here, but Libertas buses towards Ploce and Viktorija stop on Frana Supila just outside. A visit takes about 10 minutes, though it combines naturally with a walk east towards the Lazareti quarantine complex and Banje Beach, both within a few minutes' walk, and with the Old Port, which is 5 minutes on foot from Luza Square. For photographs, the bridge gives a clean view of the arch and the walls above, and the area outside the gate offers views of Fort Revelin and the sea. The gate is free and open at all hours. The area is calmest in the morning, and in the evening the approach is lit and quiet. In high summer the Old Port side of the gate can be crowded when excursion boats and the Lokrum ferry load, but the gate passage itself rarely backs up. The gate is a useful alternative entrance for visitors who want to avoid the Pile Gate crush and enter from the harbour side.